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Filled with a deep distrust for men and relationships, Danni is meandering through her twenties. She is accomplished professionally yet feels utterly alone. As her faith wavers in ever truly finding someone with substance, she is referred to a hypnotist, Raj, to work through her notion of hopelessness. Shapero’s storyline is predicated upon the two primary characters, Danni and Raj, and it is through their surreal interactions that he effectively opens up layers of their past, present, and future. What makes the work even more intriguing is the high relatability factor at a time when romantic relationships manifest themselves in myriad forms, be it online, in person, etc.
As the narrative progresses, the work exhibits a distinct similarity to the work of Salvador Dali, particularly his “Persistence of Memory.” After a brief sizing up of Raj’s intentions, Danni allows herself to be vulnerable enough to let Raj hypnotize her. These sessions are the crux of the novel, helping Danni uncover submerged, latent traumas that are catalysts in her unfulfilled life. From the onset, the internal monologue that Shapero designates to Danni’s character makes the work even more raw and authentic. While Raj’s persona—and profession—is one that lends itself to a natural state of trust, Danni assesses Raj’s body language, tone, responses, and everything to see how he might be just like the other men from her failed relationships.
While the focus on relationships is undoubtedly interesting, it is the way in which Shapero uses his storytelling abilities to not only break down the complex concept of hypnotism but also to use it as a central tool in the main characters’ call-to-action that is truly fascinating. The advent of the hornet is masterful. When Raj calls upon it, the hornet’s spell lulls Danni into a hypnotic trance, transporting her into a jungle where a giant lurks. Interestingly, even the scientific explanation Shapero provides of hypnosis is comprehensible to the layman: “We use suggestion, along with your mind’s innate ability to imagine other realities,” to tap into the immense capacities of the brain. A metaphorical giant exists in everyone’s life. In Danni’s, the giant is a representation of her father, and through hypnotism, she’s able to gain a stronger perspective of the “whys” in her life. Shapero’s work provokes deeper thought, impelling audiences to probe the depths of the mind. How powerful must the mind truly be to initially suppress trauma? Yet, it subconsciously presents itself in nearly all facets of life, thus rendering hypnotism as an incredible tool to peel back the onion so-to-speak.
In addition to sound storytelling mechanics, Shapero’s use of pacing, with swift-moving dialogue between the primary characters, creates a simultaneously well-flowing and frenetic experience, especially when the hornet’s hum takes Danni’s hypnotism experience to a peculiar situation where a teen is being exhumed. Nevertheless, Danni is unsurprised as she watches the natives. In fact, she recognizes the teen to be her younger self. In this scene, Danni experiences an eruption of sorts, understanding how much of her identity has been buried for so long. A story that begins as a quest for finding real, substantial love uncovers so much more as the author expertly delivers a riveting and enriching read that shifts the focus of the human experience to peering within to better understand the whole individual.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review